A Year With God

This year has been designated, “A Year With God.” This year we will be using the book of the same name by Richard J. Roster to walk us thought this year of devotion to God. “A Year With God” helps the Christian to focus on the basic disciplines of the Christian walk.

How To Listen To God

January 2010 is designated, “Meditation Month. Richard Foster defines meditation as, “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word”.

A Year With God

Our reading assignment this month will be from “A Year With God”. In the table of contents, Days 166-185. This section deals with Meditation. Also we will be reading from “Celebration of Discipline” pages 15 to 32. The sermon series that I will be preaching this month is entitled, “How To Listen To God.” Joshua 1:8

How To Listen To God Joshua 1:8

Sunday, January 3, 2009-How To Meditate For Success (Joshua 1:7-8) Wednesday, January 6, 2009-Conquering Hinders To Meditation (Job

15:1-4) Sunday, January 10, 2009-Pondering the Impossible (Luke 2:8-19) Wednesday, January 13, 2009-Overcoming Stinking

Thinking (Philippians 4:8-9) Sunday, January 17, 2009-Self Reflections In Troubled Times (Psalm 77:1-

10) Wednesday, January 20, 2009-Musing On The Almighty (Psalm 77:11-15) Sunday, January 24, 2009-Meditating For A Miracle (Genesis 24:62-67) Wednesday, January 27, 2009-Meditations of the Heart (Psalms 19:4) Sunday, January 31, 2009-How to Survive A Weak Heart (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Pastor EatonPastor Eaton

THE MONTH THE DISCIPLINE OF

MEDIATION… meditate on it day and night, so that you may be

careful to do everything written in it. … Joshua 1:8

Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

44RejoiceRejoice inin thethe LordLord alwaysalways.. II willwill saysay ititagainagain:: Rejoice!Rejoice! 55LetLet youryour gentlenessgentleness bebeevidentevident toto allall.. TheThe LordLord isis nearnear.. 66DoDo notnotbebe anxiousanxious aboutabout anything,anything, butbut inineverything,everything, byby prayerprayer andand petition,petition, withwiththanksgiving,thanksgiving, presentpresent youryour requestsrequests totoGodGod..77AndAnd thethe peacepeace ofof God,God, whichwhichtranscendstranscends allall understanding,understanding, willwill guardguardyouryour heartshearts andand youryour mindsminds inin ChristChristJesusJesus..

Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

88Finally,Finally, brothers,brothers, whateverwhatever isis true,true,whateverwhatever isis noble,noble, whateverwhatever isis right,right,whateverwhatever isis pure,pure, whateverwhatever isis lovely,lovely,whateverwhatever isis admirableadmirable——ifif anythinganything isisexcellentexcellent oror praiseworthypraiseworthy——thinkthink aboutaboutsuchsuch thingsthings.. 99WhateverWhatever youyou havehave learnedlearnedoror receivedreceived oror heardheard fromfrom me,me, oror seenseen ininmeme——putput itit intointo practicepractice.. AndAnd thethe GodGod ofofpeacepeace willwill bebe withwith youyou..

Thesis: Christians Thesis: Christians should Change the way should Change the way they think by mediating on the Word.they think by mediating on the Word.

Praise to God v.4Praise to God v.4--55Prayer to God v.6Prayer to God v.6--77

Pondering to God v.8Pondering to God v.8Peace of God v. 9Peace of God v. 9

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Christianity and living the Christian life is a war Christianity and living the Christian life is a war that goes on between your ears. And is a that goes on between your ears. And is a

matter of our thought life more than it is a matter of our thought life more than it is a matter of the devil and demons and what matter of the devil and demons and what they they

dodo..

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Praise to God v.4Praise to God v.4--5 5 44Rejoice in the Lord Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 55Let your Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Prayer to God v.6Prayer to God v.6--7 7 66Do not be anxious Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to requests to God.God.

77And And the peace of God, which transcends all the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. minds in Christ Jesus.

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Pondering to God v.8 Pondering to God v.8 88Finally, brothers, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirablewhatever is admirable——if anything is excellent or if anything is excellent or praiseworthypraiseworthy——think about such thingsthink about such things..

Determine to Demolish

55We demolish arguments and every We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to every thought to make it obedient to Christ.Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Deceive by Desire

1414but but each one is tempted when, by his own each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and evil desire, he is dragged away and enticedenticed.. 1515Then, after desire has conceived, Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullit gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full--grown, gives birth to death.grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

Divine Directions

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the leftye turn to the left.” .”

Isaiah 30:21 JK

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Peace of God v. 9 Peace of God v. 9 99Whatever you have Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen learned or received or heard from me, or seen in mein me——put it into practice. And the God of put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.peace will be with you.

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Thesis: Christians should Change the way Thesis: Christians should Change the way they think by mediating on the Word.they think by mediating on the Word.

Overcoming Stinking Thinking

Decisions to make today!Decisions to make today!

Accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and SavoirAccept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savoir Be baptizedBe baptized Join Bethlehem Baptist ChurchJoin Bethlehem Baptist Church Ask for prayerAsk for prayer Testify Testify Ministry or MissionMinistry or Mission

A Year With God